The golden willow tree (Volkslieder (Folksongs), set by A. Copland) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


There was a little ship in South Amerikee,
Crying O the land that lies so low,
There was a little ship in South Amerikee,
She went by the name of the Golden Willow Tree,
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed in the lowland so low.

We hadn't been a sailin' more than two weeks or three,
Till we came in sight of the British Roverie,
As she sailed in the lowland lonesome low,
As she sailed in the lowland so low.

Up stepped a little carpenter boy, Says
"What will you give me for the ship that I'll destroy?"
"I'll give you gold or I'll give thee,
The fairest of my daughters as she sails upon the sea
If you'll sink 'em in the lowland lonesome low,
If you'll sink 'em in the land that lies so low."

He turned upon his back and away swum he,
He swum till he came to the British Roverie,
He had a little instrument fitted for his use,
He bored nine holes and he bored them all at once.
He turned upon his breast and back swum he,
He swum till he came to the Golden Willow Tree.

"Captain, 0 Captain, come take me on board,
And do unto me as good as your word
For I sank 'em in the lowland lonesome low,
I sank 'em in the lowland so low."

"Oh no, I won't take you on board,
Nor do unto you as good as my word,
Tho' you sank 'em in the lowland lonesome low,
Tho' you sank 'em in the land that lies so low:'

"If it wasn't for the love that I have for your men,
I'd do unto you as I done unto them,
I'd sink you in the lowland lonesome low,
I'd sink you in the lowland so low:'

He turned upon his head and down swum he,
He swum till he came to the bottom of the sea.
Sank himself in the lowland lonesome low,
Sank himself in the land that lies so low.

Authorship

Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Date added to the website: 2005-09-19.

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